Teacher testimonials

Kids Restore the Kepler

Fits beautifully with our upcoming Term 3 inquiry as to how we can help in our community.

Jennifer Coyle from Edendale School

Hooked them in from the beginning - ambassadors/videos - high interest activities. Helped the children to focus on our concept of "taonga". Authentic learning that helps all children through the use of various learning styles. Great for helping to differentiate the programme for the wide range of children in my class.

Lynn Douglas from St Francis Xavier Catholic School (Whangarei)

Students were able to really get their teeth into this topic. With the local resources also coming to the party it was a great way to learn about our native flora and fauna. Allowed the students to feel like they were actually there on the trip!

Todd Brodie from Upper Moutere School

Resources were very easy to download and adapt for our students with specific needs. Our school had a Maori Community Hui during the trip and feedback directly from parents of children in the class was extremely positive. Great to be able to follow from home as well.

Tracy Phillips from Bethlehem School

I have a student who cannot read or write yet he was able to watch the videos as part of a whole class activity and orally contribute, just like everyone else. Engagement of the students, they said they did no real work watching the videos and completing the questions independently, however the level of understanding was higher than is typically observed from text based resources.

Frank Usherwood from Bethlehem School

The activities suited cooperative work. The māori perspective was relevant throughout. We loved the vocab lists on each background activity. Again learning in a real context for the children - of all abilities and cultures makes it truly meaningful.

Paulien Gray from Otonga School

Canterbury Earthquakes

We are inquiring into how natural forces shape the earth so information about earthquakes as a force was very relevant The field trips deepen children's understandings and are a means of the girls making local connections to global situations.

Christine McGill from Queen Margaret College

Provides access to areas that we can not just jump in a van and travel to.

Kelvin Hogg from St Paul's Collegiate

Such a simple way to support science and social studies in the classroom and audio conferences actively engage students with information.

Tracey Burgess from St Peter's School (Beckenham)

The way the scientist answered made the children feel valued and that he was very interested in their ideas.

Christine Meehan from Our Lady of Fatima School (Chch)

The students were able to learn a range of new things in relation to Earthquakes. I was impressed with their questions they came up with from the background reading pages. They were very much engaged, especially with the videos and audioconferences. It is a unique way of learning for the students.

Pax O'Dowd from Our Lady of Fatima School (Chch)

The questions were excellent and the short videos really helped to maintain the boys' interest. Because there are visual/ audio resources it meant that the learning was more accessible to everyone.

Katherine Field from Hereworth School

Used with Year 11 geography. Explained the natural processes well.

Matthew Satherley from John Paul College

Linked into our Bounce Back school wide theme. This project was brilliant for exploring how humans adapt to disasters. Awesome way to engage all learners, the activities, audio conferences, video diaries - just excellent!

Emma Watts from Upper Moutere School

Very helpful for my Overseas and distance students who are studying extreme natural disasters for NCEA level 1. Great videos, pictures and activities.

Carol Morgan from Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu

Northern Wetlands

Having our ambassador go along created real buy in for the children.

Lorraine Malpass from Fernside School

All Our Yr 5-7 students took part. The audio conference in particular was great for all our kids.

Jennifer Vincent from Marco School

For students, the 'big idea' that what they do does count. Fabulous 'virtual' trip for low decile schools. Great for English language learners.

Lillian Nathan from Roscommon School

Inquiry into a real location and environment in Aotearoa. Children liked the audio conference, videos, and having an ambassador! My first time so in future I will include the readings as part of literacy and use the field trip for persuasive writing.

John Davidson from Lincoln Heights School

Andrew's videos were awesome. His interview questions and video shots provided a solid insight into the area and associated issues.

Ross Nicholson from Rangiora New Life School

Found the information about local iwi on the field trip relevant and the relationship with what they are doing to protect the area. Age level appropriate and high interest.

Diane Henderson from Ohaeawai School

We will use LEARNZ again because it is a wonderful and free resource.

Andrea Hall from Koromatua School

Learners loved the bilingual words!

Trina Bennet from Finlayson Park School

Fitted well with our topic "Our Planet is in Danger". Good quality, interesting material, flexibility in how much to use and when. Freedom to adapt and do it our way and use as little or as much as we need.

Leone Baylis from Fairburn School

I love the integrated approach and potential. It is very useful to a small group of diverse ages (Y9-13) and backgrounds because I can always find 'an entry point' for everyone. My students are hospitalised ... the field trips are like a window on the outside world for them.